Classic Cars – The Audi Quattro

The year was 1980 and Gary Numan’s Cars was at the top of the Music charts. In Britain at the time and throughout Europe, fast cars and so called ‘Yuppys’ were the order of the day in what becoming an increasingly competitive and socially divided world, prior to the technological advances brought by the infant information age.

At the Geneva Motor Show in March that year a car was revealed that was to technically change the future design of most road cars – The Audi Quattro.

The four-wheeled drive turbocharged road car, rally car and angular designed coupe, stole the show and proved that Audi with the new Quattro really had made ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ a massive advancement through technology.

The original or Ur Quattro as it became known, as opposed to subsequent quattro models with a small q, was not the first 4×4 road car; this honour is held by the Jensen FF.

However the innovative four-wheel drive system that Audi developed for the Quattro, did away with all the previous problems of additional driveshafts and extra weight. The Quattro team had produced a practical solution that amazed the motoring world of the day and led the way for the development of all modern 4×4 road cars.

Audi in the 1970′s was not the most avant garde of the stoic German manufacturers, however they had a young and enthusiastic research and development team and more importantly, since 1969 the financial backing of owner Volkswagen, which was needed for the Audi Quattro to be born.

The seeds of the Quattro had sprouted three years before the car was launched in 1977 when chassis engineer Jorg Bensinger and a team of Audi engineers were visiting Northern Scandinavia to evaluate the performance of another Audi car, the front wheeled drive 100 series saloons.

While there, Bensinger was highly impressed by the performance of a protype of Volkswagen’s Iltis military vehicle which was also being tested under extreme conditions.

The Iltis had new four-wheel drive technology and superb handling which easily outmaneuvered all competition in the snow and ice.

Jorg Bensinger was impressed and on his return to the Audi factory at Ingolstadt, with the encouragement of Walter Treser, a former rally driver and head of advanced development at Audi, in March 1978 the Quattro project commenced.

The Quattro design team started out by taking the worlds first 5 cylinder engine from the highly successful turbocharged 170 mph Audi 200, which was in parallel development at the time.

To the 2144 cc engine the team added a single overhead camshaft with two valves per cylinder, which boosted the engines output to 200 bhp at 5500 rpm.

This gave the Audi Quattro a top speed of 137 mph and the car could do 0 to 60 mph in just 7 seconds.

What took the world by storm though was not the power of the engine but the ingenious configuration of the new four-wheel drive system. Based on the Iltris concept, the design reconfigured the transmission and did away with the cumbersome and heavy traditional transfer box and driveshaft.

The Quattro team took the new engine and mounted it on the car in line, rather than in the usual transverse layout of the time. This allowed the gearbox to be attached to the back of the engine in a usual rear wheel drive manner. On the Quattro, power was transmitted through the gearbox in the usual manner, to a small grapefruit sized differential box immediately to the rear. From there it was conveyed by a typical rear axle.

But what made the quattros configuration so special was that it also transmitted power forward, using a hollow gearbox output shaft, to a similar differential that drove the front wheels!

The cars unique handling and sensational road holding that won so many Rallies throughout the 1980′s in its sporting configuration, was further enhanced by the Macpherson suspension, all round disc brakes, and low profile radial tyres.

When the World Rally Championships changed the rules to allow four wheeled drive cars, the future of the Quattro was certain. In order to comply with the World Rally organisers rules of homologation, Audi had to produce a minimum of 400 cars per year to be considered a production vehicle. The development project was pushed forward and Audi attempted to build 10 new cars per day or 2000 per year.

All in all, Audi managed to produce 11,452 Quattros over the period 1980-1991. The rally versions the A1 and A2 evolutions, went on to win multiple World Rally Championships between 1981 and 1983.

Today the latest versions of Audis including the stunning RS range, still use the old Quattro technology!

How to Keep a Long Distance Relationship Going

One of the toughest relationships to be in is a long distance relationship. In a sense, it is kind of painful because the two lovers cannot be there for each other physically when one needs the other. However, it is also fulfilling when the partners finally get to spend some time with each other. It isn’t as frequent as the time spent together by those involved in non-long distance relationships, but as they say, “absence make the heart grow fonder.” Every moment spent together is special for those involved in a long distance relationship, and that somehow makes up for the difficulty of the arrangement.

Indeed, it is difficult to be involved in a long distance relationship. You seem under a cloud of uncertainty, since you don’t know what the other is doing and what things he is facing. There are also a lot of temptations closer to home when you are in a long distance relationship. If you are involved in one, how can you keep the flame going in a long distance relationship? Here are some things that you might want to keep in mind for they might be useful for you, even if you are not involved in such a relationship at the moment.

Keep the Faith

First and foremost, keep the faith in each other. You need to have trust in order for the relationship to be strong, because without trust, you two can easily get into a situation where the relationship is threatened and, often times, break under the pressure.

Keep in Touch

Communication is an essential component of a long distance relationship. Without communication, you wouldn’t be able to talk to each other and know what each other is thinking at the moment and what problems he may be facing. That way, even if you are not physically there for him, at least you can be more understanding of his situation if something comes up. That comes close to comforting him physically, though we can all agree that the real thing is better.

Value Each Other

The third, but definitely not the least, you should learn to value each other. Distance is a very difficult barrier to overcome, and if you don’t value each other, your relationship is bound to fail even at the start of your affair. If you don’t value each other, you are bound to abuse the trust of the other and engage in some undesirable behavior while your partner is away from you. So value each other, value your relationship, and you can keep the relationship strong despite the difficulties that are bound to come your way as part of your long distance relationship.

Quality Adult Personals

Quality adult personals are becoming harder to find these days. The recent growth in the online dating world has created a polluted industry, leaving only a handful of good quality sites.

When searching for an adult personals site to join, you should set a quality standard. Sites meeting this standard should offer a minimum of the following features:

1. Create a Free Profile – A free profile is almost a must these days. Sites that do not offer this may be trying to rip you off.

2. Upload photos – To accompany your profile, you should also be able to post photos free.

3. Quick Search – At the least, you should be able to search by age, zip code, gender, and interest. Today’s top adult personals provide you with these tools to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

4. View Member Photos – Yes, for many people, looks do matter. You should be able to view members’ photos before even talking to them, eliminating those who don’t meet your standards.

5. Feel Secure – Most important, the environment of a quality adult personals site should make you feel safe. Professionally designed sites usually make you feel secure.

So there you have the quality standard. Don’t waste your time on sites that do not offer the features mentioned above. Today’s top adult personals are able to provide you with them for free.

You can find a list of sites meeting these standards at AdultPersonalsDirectory.com

Common Problems With Piercings

So long as you get your piercing done by a professional piercer using sterile equipment, serious complications are rare. However, as with any medical procedure, there is no way to make anything 100% risk free. Infections, scarring, and accidents like tearing are always possible, and it’s important for you to be aware of these risks, no matter how remote the chances.

The single biggest concern after any piercing is the immediate risk of infection. The most important thing to do is make sure the needle the piercer uses is sterile, which any professional piercer will do. Some piercings take more work to keep clean though – tongue rings in particular are hard to keep clean, as the mouth is such a breeding ground for bacteria. Regularly cleaning your piercing with hydrogen peroxide, and following any cleaning instructions your piercer gives you, are excellent ways to make sure this does not become a problem for you.

A serious infection, or a poor piercing job, can result in scarring. Any time your body has to heal itself the risk of scarring comes is there, and when you’re talking about piercings you can end up with a hole that is unusable due to scar tissue that builds up inside it. This can also be a problem if the body rejects the material that the jewelry is made of, and therefore tries to force it out. The body usually does this by pushing the object out and then filling in the hole with scar tissue. This is usually preventable by wearing jewelry made of non-allergenic material like stainless steel for the first several weeks.

The gauge of the piercing lets you know how big you can wear your jewelry. If you try to wear earrings or belly button rings that are a larger gauge than the hole is, you can end up stretching or tearing the hole to the point that it becomes unusable. This is preventable by making sure you understand exactly what weight your piercing can handle, and what size gauge you can safely wear. For heavier jewelry you can also get piercing protectors, which you can fit into your piercing to help spread out the weight of the jewelry, and prevent it from stretching your piercing out.

Speak with your piercer to find out exactly what you can expect during the healing process. Generally speaking, piercings should not hurt for very long after the procedure – no more than a few days to a week. If you are experiencing pain for significantly longer, or the piercing is red, warm to the touch, or has the appearance of being infected, contact a doctor or your piercer immediately, as the complications can make the piercing much less attractive or even cause it to seal up entirely.

Advertising to Sell Your Car

There isn’t one single place that is for selling a car. There are a number of places where you can sell a car. The best way to sell a car and to get the most out of it is quite simple. Firstly, people should understand that they should advertise openly and not limit themselves to only one method or place for advertising. If you want a good price for the automobile you want to sell, you need to inform a large audience so that you have a number of buyers lined up to purchase your junkie. When you have many buyers, it is often easier to gain more out of selling your junkie because someone will be willing to pay more.

The first place you can try to sell a car is online. The internet is a very popular place for buying and selling these days. With internet access to almost everyone around the globe, buying and selling over the internet is now easier than before. If you want to sell a car, you need to list it online, on a related website. Lots of people are in search of cars and most people turn to the internet to find themselves an automobile. If you list yourself on the internet, there are a lot of chances of finding a good buyer for your wrecked or old junkie.

Sometimes, you will have to pay a fee for placing you advertisement on the website, and you will have to verify your email address as well. If you have to pay a fee, its better that you choose the most popular websites to place your advertisement on so that you get the results that you hope for. Other methods of advertising include ads in the local newspaper, notice boards, giving out flyers and even letting the word spread through text messages or word of mouth. These are becoming very popular methods of advertising these days.

Placing your advertisement in the newspaper is the second most preferred option after the internet. Even this isn’t a simple task because you have to know which newspaper you should place your ad in. Since you are charged for having the ad printed in the newspaper, you will want to choose the newspaper that many people read, but you will also want to advertise in a small newspaper so that your ad doesn’t get lost in all the news that is printed. You will have to make a decision based on what it will cost to have the ad printed, how many people read the newspaper etc.

Word of mouth is also a good way of selling a car. It is a growing trend and people have started advertising amongst their friends and family, asking them to spread the news. Your neighbors, your co-workers, the people you meet at the gym, your friends etc are good sources of spreading the news. Just make sure they pass on your contact details when they are spreading the word so that those who are interested will be able to contact you easily.

These were certain ways in which you advertise about selling a car. The process doesn’t just end at advertising. The way you present your old junkie, its condition, and your salesman skills will also have an impact on the buyer and will play a role in helping the buyer decide whether your old junkie is the one he/she wants to buy, and whether you’re the right person to buy the car from or not. So advertise in more than one way and you’ll see how many buyers you will be able to find.

Consider These Exciting Bridal Bouquet Ideas

There are many factors to consider when considering bridal bouquet ideas. Examples are color scheme for the wedding, meaning attached to flowers, size and shape of the bride, seasonal availability for the flowers, and budgetary allowance.

When choosing a color scheme, trends come and go. For some brides, it is important to stay with elegant, traditional white or ivory tones. Some flowers that are harmonious in those settings are the rose, calla lily, daisy, anemone, lily of the valley, white tiger lily, gladiolus, gardenia, and freesia. The possibilities are endless when the wedding planner is more adventurous and wants splashes of either pale or bright color.

There are traditions regarding the meaning of various plants and flowers. One story is that the first bridal flowers were meant to ward off evil spirits. Another is that floral arrangements were used to mask body odor when the wedding parties were unable to bathe before their ceremony. There are many websites listing common ideas attached to certain flowers. Some depicted by white flowers are purity, humility, faithfulness, and innocence. Red roses signify love. Tulips represent passion.

Some flowers are considered undesirable in bridal bouquet ideas, due to their meaning. For instance, the message of lavender is distrust. Marigold is grief. Infidelity is signified by the larkspur, and the yellow rose, jealousy. Brides who are not otherwise superstitious often become very apprehensive about such notions when anticipating their special day.

When choosing the color, shape, and size of flowers to be carried by the bride, it is important that the look is balanced. A slender female, short in stature will be overwhelmed by a large, bulky arrangement. Similarly, a very small, delicate floral piece will be unnoticed when carried by a larger woman. There are many shapes and sizes available to complement the appearance of brides.

A nosegay or a posy is often the choice for a tiny bride. Another selection, for smaller hands, might be a composite bouquet, individual petals wired onto a single stem to resemble a large flower. Larger bouquets give voluptuous women a more graceful appearance.

Another consideration is the shape of the dress. A general rule of thumb is the fluffier the dress, the bigger the arrangement. More slender sheaths should be accompanied by light and airy floral shapes, such as nosegays or posies. A larger grouping could actually hide or detract from a lovely figure. Embellished gowns do not need very fancy, sparkly, or cascading blossoms. It is better to tone down the bouquet, so that the combination does not appear too busy, bright, or gaudy.

One of the ways to keep costs down when considering bridal bouquet ideas is to use flowers that are available during the season in which the wedding is planned. Experienced florists can create most any type, size, or shape of arrangement. If the desired flower is more than the budget allows, silk flowers are often acceptable, and even a desirable alternative to fresh ones. They look real, and they are permanent keepsakes.

Suzuki ATV

When it comes to ATV for sale there are lots of manufacturers in the market who are involved in producing these vehicles such as Suzuki, Deere and Company, Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Honda and Kawasaki. They are some of the major all-terrain manufacturers in automobile industry or all-terrain vehicle market today. The first three-wheeled all-terrain vehicle was manufactured and launched by Honda Company in the year 1930. Most of the manufacturers have Kids, Utility and Sport range of ATV. There are some popular and famous models of Suzuki which include Twin Peaks 700, King Quad 700, Ozark range of all-terrain as utility vehicles, Eiger and Vinson. Several manufacturers design these vehicles with DOHC and SOHC engines. The single overhead camshaft models come with internal combustion engine design with single camshaft over the valves, while the double overhead camshaft models are equipped with camshafts that operate exhaust and intake valves over the camshafts.

Those who are looking for ATV for sale the best place to find them is over the internet as there are lots of dealers in the market who provide services of these vehicles. All-terrain vehicles mostly are available in front-wheel locked four-wheel drive system or two-wheel drive system. Most of the Suzuki ATVs come with fuel-injection system, technology and hydraulic front brakes and are built on high tense steel. There are some Honda ATV such as TRX 250EX, TRX 450R, TRX 300 EX, TRX 90 and TRX 400 EX. One of the high performance models of Honda is 450R that comes with kick-start and electric start mode. The TRX models launched by company are sports models, while the utility models are Four Trax series, the Recon, Rincon, Rancher, Foreman Rubicon and Rincon GP Scape. Honda utility models come with electronic fuel injection systems and 700cc powerful engines. There are some Yamaha models that come with liquid-cooled four-stroke five-valve 660cc engines available in either four-wheel drive system or two-wheel drive systems. Kawasaki ATV are one of the most powerful all-terrain vehicles in the market with their automatic transmission and powerful V-Twin engines.

Suzuki ATV enthusiasts and aficionados are always in for these vehicles as they offer long travel and wide stance suspensions. Suzuki is such a manufacturer which concentrates more on design as per the needs of consumers. The brand Suzuki spells performance, power, style and class of vehicles. Suzuki offering towards their customers is creativity, orientation and innovation. The production lineup of company includes several different all-terrain vehicles which include kids ATV, utility sport ATV and Sport ATVs. One of the most famous and popular utility sports ATV of Suzuki Company is King Quad 750 which is designed and built to be all-round ATV. One of the best ATV is Quad Runner all-terrain vehicle that comes with sharp headlights and high-arched fenders. There is another best model of Suzuki called King Quad 450 which is a great combination of styling, performance, engine performance, value, electronic fuel injection system, locking rear differential and independent rear suspension.

Suzuki ATV has been in the market from very long time and they have gained a good reputation in the market by providing the consumers with all-terrain vehicles with cutting-edge technology.

Chinese Version of the Story of the Phoenix

It is delightful to find some same or similar figures in Western and Oriental cultures. This mythological bird is one of them. In the Western world, it is called the “Phoenix” or “Fire Bird.” Oriental culture represented by the Chinese call the bird “Fenghuang.” Japanese uses the same Chinese characters and call it “Houou.” This sacred bird appears in various mythologies. It is not just a European and East Asian creature. The bird appears in mythologies of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Egyptians, and Indians. The common characteristic is that this bird has eternal life. It jumps into a volcano to refresh its life and body, and flies again.

The Chinese version of this bird also appears in Zhuangzi, an ancient story by a Chinese philosopher, as the gigantic bird with eternal life called “Huang.” According to the Zhuangzi story, a gigantic bird lives in the northern ocean. Under water, the ocean is shaped like big fish eggs. When the stormy season comes, it flies from the deep ocean. It looks like an island coming out of the sea. Emerging from the water, it now looks like a bird. It spreads its wings and flies south where the water of the Milky Way pours into the land. Huang flies high with its wings creating massive wind. The wind from Huang’s wings gives new birth to plants, grasses, flowers, fruits, and animals in these lands. The bird is the origin of life, giving new life on earth by flying.

Sparrows and pigeons watched Huang flies long distances, laughed and said migrating 10,000 miles or more does not make sense, since they can fly 10-20 miles and find enough food.

These birds never understand that the foods they are getting are grown because the Huang bird flies.

This story contains some intriguing meanings. Those who are satisfied with the small world in which they are living can never understand the big picture. For sparrows and pigeons, the world is restricted to 10 – 20 miles from where they live. They will never understand that there is a wider world outside their territory. Those who stick to their own small world can never understand the expanse of the whole world.

The second interpretation of this story is to be one’s own size. The Huang can fly high in the sky and travel around the world because it was created that way. If sparrows or pigeons tried to fly the same distance the Huang flies, they would get lost and die. It is safer and smarter to stay within ones own size and ability.

In ancient China, when a farmer dreamt of being a king, his family, relatives, and friends laughed at him. He told those critics that sparrows and pigeons will never understand the spirit and ability of the Huang. He did not become the king of the entire Kingdom of China, but instead became a regional lord, while his friends were required to serve him and follow his orders. The final point this story makes is that one can never be a Huang if he does not dream big.

Pop Art of Delftware

Delft is a little village in Netherlands famous for its unique prints on pottery. Made in unique shades of blue, this form of pottery art is famous the world over, for its unmatched finish, glaze and beauty. Today the art of pottery has influenced the world of pop art as well, resulting in a new style called Delftware pop art. Here is more information about this form of pottery and how it translates into art on various mediums.

The unique style

Delftware speaks of a very unique and unusual style. Usually done on a white glaze of pottery, this form of art makes use of floral or animal motifs in cobalt to ultramarine blues. Other popular motifs also include pictures of windmills, pleasant scenery or abstract designs. A more traditional approach to designs is the unique factor of Delft pottery, making it a timeless collection for many.

Delft as pop art

Just like metal oxides are used on pottery to create this style, art too inspires from these intricate motifs. These motifs can be created on canvas and other mediums too, making for a novel form of art. However Delftware as pop tries to bring to it a more modern style. Usage of faces as portraits within motifs that are circular or rectangular is shape is commonly implemented here. This combination of traditional with the modern gives a unique style that looks good on any surface. On canvas too, the blues and white are used to give the characteristic Delft appearance, and only outlines of the images are drawn, rather than shading.

Specialty

The most striking feature about Delftware designs is the usage of just two colours and its shades. White and blue complement one another well and make for a beautiful portrait. The usage of traditional motifs is another special feature of this form of art. The combination with modern portraits, gives the style a whole new look and appeal. The timeless combination of blue and white adds to the freshness and appeal of the portrait that looks breathtakingly wonderful.

Mediums

Today Delftware can be printed on a range of medium. While ceramic mugs are a great option for printing Delftware, canvas prints, wall clocks, watches, t-shirts and even key chains look good with these prints. You can also consider Delft print cushions, home decor or even office decor in this style. Combining three to four elements of a room with Delft, can give themed interiors with the same picture or different portraits. When considering Delftware prints for outdoors, you may also think about tiles which look great on areas more liable to water splashes.

To avail of delftware styles pop art, you can check your nearest pop art studio. However, not many providers can give you good-looking delftware. You can instead check out online providers of Delftware pop art. Different styles and designs reflecting the kind of portrait, full length or bust, can then be specified. You may also consider getting the portrait of your neighborhood, a scenic region or a loved pet taken in this style.

Employee Retention Secrets From a Rural Housewife

I recently learnt a very important lesson in attrition management. It came from a most unexpected quarter:a middle-aged housewife in a village, tucked away in South India.

My friend and I were helping ourselves to a sumptuous Biriyani treat at her house. We were on a short vacation-exploring the green beauty of the Western Ghats, the mountains dividing South India.

I remarked that she manages to keep her vegetable gardens trim and well maintained. It must be difficult for a lady of her age. She looked as if she was in her sixties.

“0h, I always get the best workers, and they never leave me,” she said with a smile.

“How do you manage to keep them with you?” I asked, sniffing the possibility of uncovering a management precept that somehow, Drucker and other Gurus had overlooked. Here was my chance! I could have MY BIG BOOK out. I thanked myself for having read up on the attrition problems faced by the giant MNCs.

However, her answer, was quite unexpected.

“The secret son, is in front of you, on your plate!” She said with a triumphant smile.

I could not believe it. “You feed biriyani to your workers everyday?”

How could she balance out costs and returns?

“No you dummy”, she said.”I serve them what we make for ourselves. As much as they want”

“Oh, but they are only workers…you are indulging them, aunty.” I tried to reason with her.

“On the contrary, I find them extremely reliable, to the point that they will ask my permission to go for work in others’ places. I have had instances of absenteeism very rarely, and they take good care of my plants. Thats all I need.”

“Wow, that’s just great. Now I know how to get 100% attendance at my office.”

My enthusiasm, however, drew a concerned look from her.

“I think you are missing the whole point, son” She explained,” I do not treat them well to get good returns out of them. It is not a transaction for me. I do it because I love to do it. I like to make them happy.”

As you might have guessed, this is nothing new. People do great work when they are happy. They are happy when you treat them as valuable individuals.

Note: Biriyani is a dish made of rice, ghee, vegetables, and flavored with spices. It is taken with onions in curd.